Mr. Vaneasked the Secretary of State for War what is the purpose of holding large numbers of military vehicles along the verges of German autobahnen and in similar parks; how many usable or repairable vehicles are standing out in all weathers; and how and when it is proposed to dispose of all such vehicles.
§ Mr. BellengerThe purpose of holding a large number of vehicles in Germany is to enable the Army to continue to operate with its existing vehicles for as long as possible without recourse to civilian production. The number of usable and repairable vehicles on Army charge on the sites mentioned in the Question is 81,000. In order to ensure that the best conditioned vehicles are kept in the Service it is necessary to inspect and classify all vehicles before disposal. This process of inspection and classification is constantly being carried out and all surplus vehicles are disposed of by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply At the moment some 10,000 of these vehicles are in course of being handed over.